Rotary brush for suction cleaners



Nov. 24, 1953 2 R, C, OSBON 2,659,921

ROTARY BRUSH FOR SUCTION CLEANERS v Nov. lI

INVENToR.

Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-lcs ROTARY BRUSH Fon sU-CTION CLEANERS Ralph C'. Osborn, Bloomington, Ill., assigner to Eureka Williams Corporation, Bloomington Ill., acorporation of Michigan Application November 1, 1947, Serial No. 783,533

(Cl. e-182) y 6 Claims.

1 Y Thisinvention relates to rotary brushes for suction cleaners and has particular reference to a new and improved rotary brushy construction which is adapted to more efficiently remove surface and embedded dirt from surface coverings. l' have found that the different kinds of dirt which accumulate on or in a surface covering present different problems in dirt removal in connection with a suction cleaner. For embedded dirt the carpet or surface covering needs to be agitated so as to dislodge such dirt and permit the flow of air into the cleaner to carry such dirt into the cleaner. Surface litter usually may be picked up by the cleaner by the air flow or by the sweeping action of -a brush. However, certain types of surface litter, such as lint, thread, hair and the like, present a difficult problem to remove from a surface covering due to what is thought to be surface tension between such material and the floor covering. The present invention contemplates a rotary brushfor suction cleaners which is adapted to efficiently remove lall of the foregoing types of dirt, and comprises a rotary body having three different types of dirt removal elements thereon; namely, a relatively stiff row of tufts' adapted to beat and agitata a surface covering; a relatively flexible row of tufts which is particularly adapted to sweep a surface covering; and another row of tufts, which I have termed lint tufts, which is adapted to cooperate with the beating and sweeping tufts soas to effect the removal of threadlike material from the surface covering.

A principal object of the invention, therefore,

is to provide a new andv improved rotary brush for suction cleaners which is adapted to more effectively and e'fliciently remove dirt from` a surface covering. Other and further objects' of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will bek understood by reference to the accompanying' drawing, of which there is one sheet, which by way of illustration shows a preferred. embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I. have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a cleaner embodying the invention;

Fig 2 is a` fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. l; Y

Fig. -3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the rotary brush in another position thereof; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along thev line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

A suction cleaner embodying the invention includes a nozzle I0 having a downwardly presented mouth I2 which is adapted to be moved over a surface covering or the like to be cleaned. The cleaner is provided with front and rear wheels I4 which if the cleaner were supported on a hard surface would support the mouth of the nozzle a short distance, say approximately three-sixteenths of an inch, above such surface. Only the front wheels I4 are illustrated. On a surface covering the Wheels I4 Will sink into such surface covering so that, depending upon the thickness and character of the rug, there may be little or no space between the mouth I2 of the nozzle and the surface covering. When the cleaner is in operation, however, the flow of air into the nozzle mouth I2 will lift or draw the surface covering against the nozzle mouth so that the part of the surface covering exposed to the nozzle mouth maybe acted upon by the air flowing into the cleaner, `as Well as by the rotary brush indi'- cated generally at I6.

The cleaner additionally includes a suction creating means in the form of a fan I8, an electric motor 20 arranged for driving the fan and having a shaft 22. The rotary brush I6 is arranged in the nozzle and a belt 24 driven bythe shaft 22 is engaged with the pulley on the brush I6 for rotating the same. The cleaner may be constructed and arranged so that the brush may rotate as high as 2000 to 3000 R. P. M.

K The belt 24 extends through an air passage 26 which extends between the nozzle I0 andthe inlet to the fan I8 so as to induce a flow of air into the nozzle IIl through the mouth I2 thereof during operation of the fan I3. At the same time the rotary brush will be driven so as to act upon the surface covering presented to the nozzle mouth. The rotary brush, or agitator as it is sometimes called, is rotatably journaled by means of bearings 30 in suitable supports in the side walls of the nozzle I0 and may be vertically adjustable. The mouth of the nozzle, as illustrated, is rectangular in cross section.

The agitator or rotary brush I6 comprises a rotary body cylindrical in form which has three rows 32, 34 and 36 of brush tufts or elements projecting radially from the surface of the agitator. Each of the rows of tufts extends axially and circumferentially of the agitator body. The tufts 35 of row 34 are relatively stiff so as to agitate and beat the surface covering during the rotation of the agitator. Such tufts 35 extend from the body of the agitator I6 a relatively small amount as compared with the tufts of the other rows, and when the agitator is positioned in the nozzle as illustrated, the ends of the tufts 35 will be in approximately the plane of the nozzle mouth. The tufts are made up of short, relatively stiff fibers or filaments, such as horsehair or nylon. In any event, the tufts 35 are formed of such stock and of such size and cross section that the tufts are relatively short and stiff in order to impart a beating action to the carpet or surface covering which is presented to the nozzle mouth during operation of the cleaner. I have termed the tufts beater tufts in order to clearly differentiate the same from the tufts of the other rows and because the tufts 35 are particularly adapted for beating.

Tufts 31 of rows 35 are designated a sweeper tufts and are particularly adapted for sweeping. To this end the tufts 31 are formed of stock which is considerably more iiexible than the stock of which the tufts 35 are formed. The stock of which the tufts 31 are formed may be a liner stock or one which is more flexible. I have found that nylon filaments of about .005.l inch diameter make a good stock for forming the tufts 31. The cross sectional area of the tufts 31 is materially less than that of the tufts 35 and in addition the tufts 31 project further from the surface of the agitator l5 than do the tufts 35. It will also be observed that the row 36 of tufts 31 is positioned in spaced relation to the row 34 of beater tufts 35 and on Athe rear side thereof relative to the direction of rotation of the agitator so as to sweep the surface covering immediately after the same has been contacted by the beater tufts 35.

The beater tufts tend to knock the surface covering away from the mouth of the nozzle during operation of the cleaner and the sweeper tufts 31 are arranged to act on the surface covering at this time, the direction of rotation of the agitator I6 being indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4. The beating tufts -35 are adapted to agitate the surface covering and to open up the nap thereof, loosening the embedded dirt and grit which may then be carried away from the carpet by the air ter into the air stream flowing into the nozzle of the cleaner.

The sweeper tufts 31 should be sufficiently flexible so as to be bent by contact with the surface covering and should not be so stiff that they will move the surface covering away from the nozzle. The tufts 35 which form the beater tufts, while having a certain amount of flexibility due to the fact that they are formed of filaments or bers, should be suiciently stiff so that upon striking the surface covering they will beat the same and open up the nap thereof and move the surface covering away from the nozzle in order to agitate the surface covering during rotation of the brush I6. The tufts 31 may be of such length so that with the agitator I6 arranged as illustrated, they will project a slight distance below the lips of the mouth l2 of the nozzle during rotation of the agitator I6, say approximately one-sixteenth of an inch.

As previously indicated, the` mounting for the agitator bearings 30 may be arranged to provide several adjustments downwardly so that as the sweeper tufts 31 wear, the bearings 30 may be adjusted in their holders to maintain both the sweeper and beater brush tufts in proper operative relation with respect to the mouth of the nozzle. The sweeper tufts 31, being arranged in a row behind or on the rearward side of the beater tufts 35, will not interfere with the beating of the surface covering by the beater brush elements 35.

The tufts 33 of row 32, herein designated lint tufts, are primarily designed for picking up thread, lint, hair and other like materials. The bristles of the tufts 33 are medium in length, that is, of a length intermediate the height or length of tufts 35 and 31, and are relatively rigid so that the tufts 33 are more rigid than the tufts 31 and are also less rigid than the tufts 35. The bristles of tufts 33 may be made from horsehair, skunk hair or the like. The cross sectional area of tufts 33 may be the same or somewhat less than that of the tufts 31. The row of tufts 33 is interrupted by a series of gaps 40 so that during rotation of the agitator a thread or like lament on a surface covering will be looped or bent, whereby it may more rearily be picked up by the tufts 33 or the tufts 31. The row 32 is located on the body of the agitator approximately opposite to the row 36 so that the lint tufts 33 are circumferentially spaced substantially the same distance from the rows 34 and 36.

I have found by test that the foregoing combination of tufts will remove more dirt per minute from a surface covering than any other form of rotary brush or agitator of which I am aware.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A rotary agitator for use with a .suction cleaner comprising an elongated roller shaped rotary member having a plurality of brush elements projecting from the peripheral surface thereof, certain of said brush elements being relatively stiif and arranged so as to agitate and beat a surface covering, and other of said brush elements being longer and relatively flexible with respect to said stiff brush elements and arranged to sweep said surface covering, during rotation of sai-d agitator, each of the foregoing types of brush elements being arranged in a separate row eX- tending along the length of said agitator with said stiff brush elements arranged in a row adjacent the row of flexible brush elements so that said flexible brush elements will not interfere with the beating of the surface covering by said stiff brush elements, and another row of brush elements extending along the length of said agitator and forming lint tufts and circumferentially spaced substantially equal distances from the aforesaid rows of brush elements, said lint tufts being shorter and less iiexible than said flexible brush elements and longer and more iiexible than said stii brush elements, said row of lint tufts being interrupted by a series of gaps, said rows of brush elements being arranged relative to each other so as to obtain upon rotation of said agitator successive and distinct beating and sweeping actions as distinguished from a continuous brushing action. Y l

2. A rotary agitator for use with a suction lcleaner comprising an elongated roller shaped rotary member having a plurality of brush elements projecting from the peripheral surface thereof, certain of said brush elements being relatively stiff and arranged so as to agitate and beat a surface covering, and other of said brush elements being relatively exible with respect to said stiff brush elements and aranged to sweep said surface covering during rotation of said agitator, each of the foregoing types of brush elements being arranged in a separate row extending along the length of said agitator with said stiff brush elements arranged in a row parallel to but adjacent the row of flexible brush elements and so that said flexible brush elements will sweep said surface covering immediately after the beat ing of said surface covering by said stiff brush elements, and another row of brush elements extending along the length of said agitator and forming lint tufts and being substantially diametrically opposed to each of the aforesaid rows of brush elements, said rows of brush elements being arranged relative to each other so as to obtain upon rotation of said agitator successive and distinct beating and sweeping actions as distinguished from a continuous brushing action.

3. An agitator for a suction cleaner according to claim 2 wherein said row of lint tufts is interrupted by a series of gaps.

4. An agitator for use with a suction cleaner comprising an elongated roller shaped rotary member having a plurality of brush elements projecting from the peripheral surface thereof, certain of said brush elements being relatively stiff and arranged so as to agitate and beat a surface covering, and other of said brush elements being relatively flexible with respect to said stiff brush elements and arranged to sweep said surface covering during rotation of said agitator, each of the foregoing types of brush elements being arranged in a, separate row extending along the length of said agitator with said stiff brush elements arranged in a row circumferentially spaced from the row of iiexible brush elements so that said flexible brush elements will not interfere with the beating of the surface covering by said stiff brush elements, and other brush elements extending along the length of said agitator and forming lint tufts and circumferentially spaced from the aforesaid rows of brush elements, said lint tufts being stiffer than said flexible brush elements and more flexible than said stiff brush elements, said rows of brush elements being arranged relative to each other so as to obtain upon rotation of said agitator successive and distinct beating and sweeping actions as distinguished from a continuous brushing action.

5. A rotary agitator for use with a suction cleaner comprising an elongated roller shaped rotary member having two parallel, circumferentially spaced, axially extending rows of brush tufts projecting from the peripheral surface thereof, the brush tufts of one of said rows being relatively stiff so as to agitate a surfacek covering and the tufts of the other of said rows being relatively exible with respect to the foregoing tufts in order to sweep said surface covering during operation of said cleaner, said row of relatively ilexible brush tufts being positioned adjacent said row of relatively stiff brush tufts on the rear side thereof relative to the direction of rotation of said agitator and so as to sweep said surface covering immediately after the same has been agitated by ksaid relatively stiff brush tufts, and another row of tufts extending along the length of said agitator and forming lint tufts and being circumferentially spaced substantially equal distances from each of the aforesaid rows of tufts, said rows of Vbrush tufts being arranged relative to each other so as to obtain upon rotation of said agitator successive and distinct beating and sweeping actions as distinguished from a continuous brushing action.

6. A rotary agitator for use with a suction cleaner comprising an elongated roller shaped rotary member having bristles projecting from the peripheral surface thereof, certain of said bristles being arranged in a row extending along the length of said agitator and being relatively stiff so as to agitate a surface covering and other of said bristles being arranged in another row extending along the length of said agitator and being relatively flexible with respect to the foregoing bristles in order to sweep said surface covering during operation of said cleaner, said relatively fiexible bristles projecting farther from the axis of rotation than said relatively stiff bristles, and said relatively flexible bristles being positioned adjacent said relatively stiff bristles on the rear side thereof relative to the direction of rotation of said agitator so as to sweep said surface covering after agitation of the same by said relatively stiff bristles, and another row of bristles extending along the length of said agitator and forming lint tufts and being circumferentially spaced substantially equal distances from the aforesaid rows of bristles.

RALPH C. OSBORN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 17,615 Hoover Mar. 4, 1932 1,119,201 Szarka Dec. 1, 1914 1,495,182 Hoover May 27, 1924 1,654,186 Nulsen Dec. 27, 1927 l,770,935 Lochman July 22, 1930 1,884,013 Losey Oct. 25, 1932 1,886,129 Smellie Nov. 1, 1932 2,008,371 Smellie July 16, 1935 2,045,270 Hoover June 23, 1936 2,244,943 Dow June 10, 1941 2,459,007 Taylor Jan. 11, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 388,967 Great Britain Mar. 9, 1933 584,478 Great Britain Jan. 15, 1947 

